Good afternoon, distinguished guests. It is my great pleasure to see many old friends here.

First, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to President Jeff Alexander on assuming this important position of leading world famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I hope and believe that, in the years ahead, the CSO will have even more wonderful stories to tell on its exchanges and cooperation with the arts and music communities in China.

I am very delighted that Mr. Yo-Yo Ma is also with us. My colleague told me, the chances of meeting Yo-Yo Ma are smaller than the chances of wining the lottery. I hope your presence will make us richer in the New Year.

Today, I am here to express the strong support of the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago for the CSO Chinese New Year Concert to be performed by CSO and China National Orchestra (CNO) on February 15th at the Chicago Symphony Center just four days before the Spring Festival, the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

This upcoming concert will be of great significance not only for the CSO and CNO, but also for the cultural exchanges between China and Chicago as well as our two countries.

The Spring Festival originated in China more than 4000 years ago and is now also celebrated in some other Asian countries and the Chinese communities around the world.

It is a festival to applaud the arrival of the spring and the renewal of the Mother Nature, to celebrate family reunion and achievements of the past as well as to embrace an even better future.

The Chinese New Year Concert, as announced today, will help us with a deeper understanding of the true meaning of the Spring Festival through the beautiful music to be presented by the prestigious orchestras in our respective countries.

This concert is a special New Year gift for all of us. I encourage you to attend and wish you a happy Chinese New Year. Thank you!